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Police investigate disturbance at Town Plot home Incident occured at Mayor O'Leary's brother's house BY JONATHAN SHUGARTS REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY — State police were called to investigate a domestic disturbance Thursday at the Town Plot home of the brother of Mayor Neil M. O'Leary.

City police were initially called to 61 Alberta St., the home of Kevin O'Leary, at about 6 a.m. after they received an emergency call from a "third party" about a dispute, according to Capt. Christopher Corbett, a police spokesman.

Upon learning that Kevin O'Leary was in the home, city police contacted State's Attorney Maureen Platt, who then called state police to lead the investigation.

State police gave only limited details about the investigation, issuing a three-line press release stating that a person was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital, but was treated and released Thursday. As of Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been made, but the investigation was ongoing.

Police responded to the home based on a call from a man who talked with a woman who was with Kevin O'Leary at the home early Thursday morning, but state police aren't disclosing the specific claims that have been made.

Platt refused to say why she requested that city police turn over the investigation to state police, saying she couldn't comment on pending investigations.

Neil O'Leary issued a statement late Thursday saying he was informed that police were investigating "some sort of dispute" at his brother's home, but it was his "understanding that my brother Kevin is cooperating with the investigators."

The mayor was at Carrington Elementary School for a Board of Education meeting Thursday evening. He initially declined to comment, saying the "statement was the statement." He added, "it's family," then walked away. O'Leary then walked back toward a reporter and outside of the school.

When asked if he went to his brother's home or if he talked to his brother Thursday, O'Leary said he did not. He also said he wasn't aware of the specific details of the state police investigation, saying he had no knowledge of any allegations against his brother.

He said Deputy Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo called him Thursday, informing him that an incident had occurred at his brother's home. O'Leary said he told Spagnolo that police should contact Platt.

A crime scene van from the Western District Major Crimes Squad was parked in front of the home all day Thursday and into the evening as police went in and out of the home. City police cruisers were also present to secure the scene.

State police jotted notes as they inspected the home, going around it and inside of it. They canvassed the quiet neighborhood of well-kept homes, asking people if they had heard anything unusualThursday morning. One neighbor said he didn't realize police were in front of the home until he looked out of his window at about 9 a.m.

Kevin O'Leary's home was burglarized earlier this year, but a suspect was identified and arrested for that break-in, in addition to several others.

Kevin O'Leary serves the city as a night park ranger whose main job is to shut down the city's parks at night, which means locking up all bathrooms and gates, and turning off the lights.

He was investigated last year by the city's personnel department after a teenage boy said he was locked in a bathroom overnight at Bucks Hill Park. The city's personnel director, Peter Abare Brown, did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him to ask how that probe concluded.

Attempts to reach Kevin O'Leary were unsuccessful.

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Skim the gene pool wrote on Sep 13, 2012 8:01 PM:

" ...even the white people are destroying the Town Plot community. (Contrary to recent commentary) "

" The newspaper always has to throw a shot. No need to add the mishap with the kid locked in the bathroom.

Does this prosecutor know the history between the state police, the WPD and Mayor OLeary? obviously not. They would love to embarass him. Is there something wrong with our own police dept? I would be offended if i was Chief G. and his dept. "

" If some park worker locked a kid in a park toilet under the O"Leary regime, he'd have been hanged on the Green.Conservative1 is clearly a city employee looking for favor. Especially given how quick he is to rush to the gallows for every other city worker who screws up on these commentary boards. No Go is 100 percent correct. It would be a conflict of interest for WPD to investigate this. That's got nothing to do with the state and some perceived animosity between the staties and O'Leary.Does O'Leary's call for employee performance evaluations extend to his brother? Let's see the Mayor do the right thing and suspend this do-nothing worker for outside shenanigans. "

" Thas the towplot mafia ....they get to paint stripes on the road ...a pitbull attacks a elderly woman and nothing gets done about it ...and they get to block trafic whith the over park car around thos restaurant bar ..and nothing is wrong ... "

" I am SO glad I moved out of state, to where there is respect, and the PD are around doing their job, not like in Town Plot. Every third car has a "dealer plate or handicap" sticker on them, and every other car has a cell phone user/texter user. When i lived there, I NEVER saw a cop on the road, but always in the park, or set back in the school parking lot, or hiding on back roads doing "God knows what!" There is always one cop actually visiting his girlfriend in the very early hours of the morning for over an hour--and when a call comes in, he whips into his car and speeds off--ALWAYS going through the stop sign there, even under normal conditions. Did the city hire the 22 needed cops yet? With all the robberies in Town Plot on Fairfield Avenue, alone, there should be cops everywhere. Like I said, I am SO glad I moved out of state. "

" @Marie DellaValle...I live in Town Plot too and we have a very good police presence. As far as the "dealer or handicap" sticker, these are not City issued. Regarding cops in the park, I'm glad they are there, I have children and grandchildren playing in the park and the police presence keeps them safe. There are houses on "back roads" too but what "back roads" are you talking about in Town Plot? There are robberies EVERYWHERE...even in your new state...don't be so naive that crime doesn't happen where you are. What does all of what you just said have to do with what happened in this particular investigation? Maybe you should find someone to visit you at early hours of the morning...from the sound of it, I venture to guess that he'd be speeding out of there too! "

" Somehow I knew the banter would be more interesting than the story. But when they hang on back roads and parking lots they are probably observing. Usually sitting in back somewhere they would probably be able to get a first impression of an oncoming driver if they can see them before the see him. Most dangerous problem in Waterbury is disregard for red lights. I see lights turn green and people still speeding through in broad daylight. That can only end badly. Out of town people I warn when coming to Waterbury look both ways when going through a green light. "

" cops often sit in a parkinglot or side roads to write reports. If we recall reading an artical a few weeks ago officers were going call to call for not writing their reports. They dont have an office, their car is their desk. Perhaps you all should open your home to them, invite them in to sit at your table so they can FINISH what their job entails "

" Mayor has been quick to cut the heads off of city employees for on or off hour conduct. Funny how the story always make the paper the following day with specifics of the incident. These stories are mostly leaked by the Mayor himself who fancies himself as the moral and ethical judge all to bolster his egotistical image. Now he says he doesn't have specifics on his brothers incident. Please Mr. Mayor, don't be so insulting. You are quick to comment on everything else but yet you know nothing of your brothers conduct. Do as I say not as I do Mayor should crawl into a hole and fade away. You and your perpetual drunk brother are a disgrace. Fire him and yourself while your at it. "

" So Soooo looking foward to that "government transparency" thats all the rage with this administration.. Can't wait to hear ALL the gorey details of the park department's "investigation". ....love to read all the private things that made it into his personnel record in the Republican American.. But lastly, most of all, I CAN NOT WAIT for the criminal prosecution that always seems to follow our employees when they screw up. Puttin on some popcorn cause I sure the mayor's got a treat for us all. . "

" Someone is getting in trouble, I'm sure of that. My question is, did Kevin go to work today? And if not, did he use another sick day?? Will he be held to the same standard as every other city employee?? All eyes are on you now mr mayor. "

" The Mayor's brother is not "one of their own". Word on the street is, he is a hothead and drinker and may have hit some girl he brought home. Does he have a city vehicle that he drives drunk? If it's true. The Mayor MUST fire him. He needs to make a statement on this, saying he doesn't know anything doesn't pass the smell test. He is too much of a control freak to pull a Sargent Schultz. "

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